29th Annual WLHS Conference to discuss Wisconsin’s new labor history in schools bill

Wisconsin’s historic law making the teaching of labor history part of the state’s educational standards forms the basis for the 29th Annual Wisconsin Labor History Society conference, scheduled to be held from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the IBEW Joint Apprenticeship Training Center in Wauwatosa.

The conference is entitled, “Linking Students to Labor’s History,” and is to address how to best encourage teachers and students to become engaged in learning about labor history. The discussion will center on exploring ways to effectively implement the nation’s first ‘Labor History in the Schools’ law passed in 2009. Unionists, educators, and others are welcome to attend this historic conference

Andrew Kersten, of the history department at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, will open the conference with a keynote address on the critical need to teach labor history.
A panel discussion will follow on the topic of “Linking Teachers and Students with Labor History,” including discussions by representatives of the state Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Historical Society, as well as classroom teachers.

An afternoon discussion on the topic of “Making the Labor History in the Schools Law Work,” will place a focus on how labor history education can help build the labor movement. Among those participating in a panel discussion will be David Newby, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President; Hedy Eischeid, President, Fond du Lac Educ. Assn. and Director, National Education Assn.; Bryan Kennedy, President, AFT-Wisconsin and Jim Cavanaugh, President, South Central Federation of Labor.

The conference will include the annual awards ceremony, including awards to those high school students who won the annual essay contest, the Zeidler Awards for graduate and undergraduate college students for papers on Wisconsin labor history, and the Lifetime Achievement award.

Lunch will be provided. The conference fee is $25, which includes lunch, or $10 for students or unemployed persons.

Information and registration forms available at http://wisconsinlaborhistory.org. Further information may be had by contacting the society at 414-771-0700 x20.